The pros and cons of Passivhaus buildings
Obviously, if the nation's housebuilding companies did try to build to Passivhaus standard, the costs would be less due to economies of scale but, given their constant complaining that they cannot afford to do so, and our government's refusal to stipulate higher environmental standards, it seems highly unlikely that they will try to future-proof their often poorly built and designed homes. As for our desperately needed social homes, if building costs remain as high, how many will be able to be built to a Passivhaus standard?
After extensive revisions to our plans, we are getting closer to building an energy-efficient home that incorporates many of the Passivhaus features, but at a lower cost and, potentially, a lower energy performance certificate score. Passivhaus standard should be the future for British housebuilding, but not at current price levels.Alan and Jane HillPerth
Over 15 years ago as one of the trustees overseeing the renovation of the Mildmay Community Centre in north London, we went for the Passivhaus standard of serious insulation, solar panels and ground-source heating. Despite considerable opposition at the time, the building was the first retrofitted Passivhaus standard community centre in England. It is warm, beautiful and efficient.
Passivhaus is a long established standard in Germany, and could and should be adopted in the UK for new builds. But as anyone can see if they visit our community centre, it is also perfect and appropriate for retrofitting old buildings.Jenny LittlewoodLondon
Have an opinion on anything you've read in the Guardian today? Please email us your letter and it will be considered for publication in our letters section.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
North Wales Live
14 minutes ago
- North Wales Live
'Our £325k family home on Anglesey could be all yours for just £5'
An Anglesey couple have put their home in an online raffle where people could win their coastal retreat for a £5 stake. John and Jennie Bailey and their two children are looking to move from the two bedroom apartment in the seaside village of Rhoscolyn to a larger nearby bungalow to accommodate their growing family. But they've decided to try an unconventional way of selling the property - which is valued at £325,000. Rather than the usual approach of placing the home on the market they have teamed with Raffall, a UK-based company often used for property raffles. This has seen people given the opportunity to buy £5 raffle tickets to secure a chance to win the home. If the 150,000 ticket sales target is reached then one lucky winner will get the property. If the target is not reached by January 1 2026 then the draw is still held and the winner gets 50% of the pot. Jennie, 43, mum to Henry, 11, and Sebastian, nine, said it is a wonderful opportunity for someone to win a home in a dream location and they will be sad to leave the place. Join the North Wales Live Whatsapp community now She said: "As a family we have been coming to Rhoscolyn for 40 years, it was part of growing up and just where we came as my parents had another apartment in the same block here,where there are three homes. We then bought a flat for our family. "After Covid we found we were struggling to get down as often with work and family commitments and we decided as a family to move here from Stockport in Manchester in 2023. We have really settled, we already knew so many people and everyone has been so welcoming. We both mainly work from home so we could do this. "The children went to school at Ysgol Rhoscolyn and two years later are now fluent in Welsh, we are trying with our Welsh too. We love it here but while the apartment was fantastic for holidays it is too small now the children are growing up. Our eldest now wants his own room. We will be sad to leave and if it was just me and John we would be staying here." On picking this way to sell the house, Jennie, who works in home decor and helps manage a holiday property, added: 'I realise this is quite unorthodox, but that's what we love about it - imagine winning a home in the most idyllic place for a fiver - it's a life changing chance for someone!" She wants local businesses to get involved in the promotion as they can get a 75p cut in each raffle ticket sold with no cost to themselves. In total the couple need to sell 150,000 tickets for the sale to go through. This would raise a total of £750,000 but Jennie that is not what they would receive. She said: "There are a lot of costs to pay, we will do the stamp duty, potentially for a second home purchase, and the legal costs, Raffall get 10% and then we have significant marketing costs for all of this. Also when we have affiliates selling tickets they get that 75p cut per ticket. "There is a lot of marketing needed to get the sales and we have to be careful not to overspend or this could end up costing us. We started this two weeks ago and so far we have had 4,500 sales." She added: "This really is a once in a lifetime chance for people to live or holiday in a magical place by the sea. "We're only moving round the corner as we love it so much in Rhoscolyn, so we can't wait to see our home enjoyed by a new family and for them to build their own memories here.' On the property, Raffall said: "The two bedroomed coastal haven, worth £325,000 is the definition of modern elegance with an open-plan kitchen and dining area ideal for entertaining and the stylish dining-living space a perfect place to relax. "The property also features a family bathroom, downstairs WC, balcony, private garage and shared garden. Properties in Rhoscolyn are few and far between with the competition offering a rare opportunity for someone to get on the property ladder in this sought after location which has a population of just 542 residents." Property raffles like have become more common in the UK in recent years although don't end with the home changing hands at the end due to the ticket sales target not being met.
BBC News
15 minutes ago
- BBC News
Faisal Islam: Inflation complicates next month's rate decision
While the economy started this year strongly, Wednesday saw another example of a surprise to the markets in the wrong May the economy slowed again, and now inflation has quickened faster than expected. It is expected to stay well above the Bank of England's target level until consumers, still reeling from years of higher prices and a recent pickup in food prices, the new number is less a surprise, more the confirmation of their ordinary day-to-day top of that, and just as important for some people, the bounce in inflation complicates the Bank's rate cut plan. Investors have been treating it as pretty much nailed on that rates will come down again in August, from the current 4.25%.Now there is definitely a sense of renewed caution.A former rate setter at the Bank, the economist Andrew Sentance, even said it would be "irresponsible" for interest rates to be cut next remain that the cut in August and another one later in the year will go ahead. But the Bank will have to explain why it is looking beyond this current rise in inflation, into next year's expected drop-back to the 2% will mean the return of old questions around whether the UK is more inflation-prone than other countries, for example because of increasing wage and tax costs being passed on in the form of higher prices.A weakening jobs market is another part of the deliberations. The latest employment figures will be published on as expected, they show a continued fall in vacancies, then that strengthens the argument for going ahead with a cut in rates. Bloomberg is predicting a 4.9% unemployment rate, up from the 4.6% reported last as always it is important to keep all the figures in perspective. True, other major economies have not seen a similar bounce in inflation. The eurozone's latest inflation rate is just 2%. But inflation is nowhere near the highs of the energy crisis, and will come down as energy prices fall in the autumn. Growth is definitely slowing, but we are not in recession, and the very latest activity figures suggest recovery in some sectors.
Daily Mail
15 minutes ago
- Daily Mail
Drinks giant Diageo replaces boss after two years as its value sinks
The chief executive of embattled booze giant Diageo will step down after two years marred by profit warnings, supply woes and a sharp fall in market value. Diageo, which owns Guinness as well Johnnie Walker whisky and Gordon's gin, on Wednesday revealed finance chief Nik Jhangiani will take the reins on an interim basis after Debra Crew stepped down with immediate effect. The Wednesday afternoon update followed shortly after a report in the Financial Times claimed Diageo was on the hunt for Crew's successor. Diageo told investors Crew had stepped down 'by mutual consent' and it has already started a 'comprehensive formal search process' that will consider both internal and external candidates. Chair John Manzoni said: 'The board's focus is on securing the best candidate to lead Diageo and take the company forward.' Crew became chief executive in June 2023, having served as a non-executive director, president of Diageo North America and group chief operating officer. Diageo shares, which have lost more than 40 per cent since the beginning of June 2023, added 2.8 per cent on Wednesday afternoon. The group, like many firms in the sector, has seen weaker sales as cash-strapped and health-conscious drinkers have turned away from premium booze in recent years. It is also shouldering the impact of hundreds of millions of dollars worth of US trade tariffs, while supply issues last year saw UK pubs run short of Guinness. In response, Diageo launched the first phase of its Accelerate programme, which it expects to deliver about $3billion in free cash flow each year from 2026, supported by $500million in cost savings over three years. Manzoni said: 'On behalf of Diageo and the board, I would like to thank Debra for her contributions to Diageo, including steering the company through the challenging aftermath of the global pandemic and the ensuing geopolitical and macroeconomic volatility. 'We strongly believe Diageo is well placed to deliver long-term, sustainable value creation.'
